spokanequilter

Well, I've been sewing for about 45 years now - quilting for about 7. With all those years experience, you'd think I would remember to clean out my machine and replace the needle once in a while. I was having difficulty while doing some applique this afternoon, and then it hit me..... get rid of the lint and replace the needle... DUH!!

QM

I think that happens to everyone who isn't absolutely compulsive....at one time or another.

Connie M.

Color me compulsive, I guess. I am very faithful to clean my machines, and change needles. I have learned most problems people have are thread, needles, or lint build up.

suebee

I Agree with you. It truly is amazaing what difficulties a little lint and dull needle will cause.

Dina

I have the same problem, only with rotary blades. I will keep cutting with a dull blade, complaining mentally, until it hits me...."Time for a new blade." Sure makes a big difference!!

Dina

Stitchnripper

Count me in. I finally cleaned my "go to" machine - forgetting that the previous year I made a chenille and flannel quilt! The poor little thing never even quivered but imagine how much better it must have felt with all that garbage removed! I don't usually change a needle til it breaks.

Christine-

Same here!!

Annaquilts

Well it is hard to stop and do maintenance when you are having fun.

burchquilts

I'll second (or third?) that emotion. I'm not so much on "servicing" my Featherweight but I clean the lint out every time I sew (with a small, soft make-up brush) & I change needles with each new project. They're cheap & it makes all the difference in the world -- IMHO.

feline fanatic

I guess I am compulsive too. When I purchased my Bernina my dealer emphasized the importance of cleaning and oiling every 3 bobbin fulls. So I only load 3 bobbins at a time. When I have used up my 3rd bobbin I stop and clean out the lint and give her a few drops of oil in the bobbin race. Needles I am not so good at. I change them for thread types or when I hit a pin and break them. The only other time I remember to change out a dull needle is if I am working with batiks. A dull needle makes a very distinct "popping" noise on batiks. So I will change out when I hear that noise.